Cardiomyopathy — VA Disability Rating & Claim Guide
This is not legal or medical advice. Always consult with a VSO or accredited claims agent.
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The DBQ for Cardiomyopathy
Your C&P examiner fills out DBQ 21-0960A-1 (Heart Conditions (Including Ischemic and Non-Ischemic Heart Disease, Arrhythmias, Valvular Disease and Cardiac Surgery)) — the form that decides your rating. You can have your own doctor complete the same DBQ and submit it as evidence.
Have a C&P exam coming up? See exactly what the examiner will ask about Cardiomyopathy — and how to describe it.
Prep →2026 Compensation Rates
Monthly compensation for Cardiomyopathy, based on your overall combined VA disability rating.
| Rating | Monthly (Alone) | Monthly (w/ Spouse) | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | — | $2,165.04 |
| 20% | $356.66 | — | $4,279.92 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $617.47 | $6,629.64 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $882.84 | $9,550.08 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,241.90 | $13,594.80 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,566.02 | $17,220.24 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,961.45 | $21,701.40 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,277.15 | $25,225.80 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,559.30 | $28,347.60 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,158.17 | $47,262.96 |
Common Symptoms
Document these symptoms in your claim. The more thoroughly you describe how they affect your daily life, the stronger your claim.
Functional Limitations
VA rates disabilities based on how they limit your ability to function. Describe these limitations in your personal statement.
Rating Criteria for Cardiomyopathy
Rating schedule under 38 CFR 4.104, DC 7020 (cardiomyopathy), General Rating Formula for Diseases of the Heart. Criteria are simplified summaries; your specific rating depends on severity documented in your C&P exam.
Workload of 7.1 to 10.0 METs results in heart failure symptoms; or continuous medication required for control.
Workload of 5.1 to 7.0 METs results in heart failure symptoms; or evidence of cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation confirmed by echocardiogram or equivalent.
Workload of 3.1 to 5.0 METs results in heart failure symptoms.
Workload of 3.0 METs or less results in heart failure symptoms.
Verified against 38 CFR Part 4, the official VA rating schedule. Reviewed July 2026.
Will adding Cardiomyopathy raise your rating?
Enter your current combined rating and the level this condition would rate at. We'll do the VA math.
New combined
10%
New monthly
$180
Change
+$180
Rates shown are the 2026 veteran-alone amounts (no dependents). VA combines ratings with "whole-person" math and rounds to the nearest 10, so adding a condition does not simply add its percentage. Full combined-rating calculator with dependents →
Peer-Reviewed Medical Evidence
Real, verified studies from PubMed/NIH that support a Cardiomyopathy claim. Bring these citations to your accredited VSO or C&P exam — they help show your condition is recognized in the medical literature and, where noted, linked to other service-connected conditions.
New England Journal of Medicine, 2015 · nexus to PTSD, anxiety, depression (psychiatric/emotional stress) · PMID 26332547
Finding: In the International Takotsubo Registry of 1,750 patients, those with stress (takotsubo) cardiomyopathy had far higher rates of neurologic or psychiatric disorders than acute coronary syndrome patients (55.8% vs 25.7%) and markedly lower left ventricular ejection fraction (40.7% vs 51.5%). Emotional triggers preceded 27.7% of cases, and major adverse cardiac/cerebrovascular events occurred at 9.9% per patient-year.
Why it helps: This landmark NEJM registry supports an association between psychiatric conditions and emotional stress and the development of a heart-failure-causing cardiomyopathy, which helps frame a secondary-service-connection theory linking a service-connected mental health condition such as PTSD to stress cardiomyopathy.
Biology of Sex Differences, 2025 · nexus to PTSD · PMID 40524204
Finding: In a Takotsubo registry analysis (n=104, with VA San Diego investigators), patients with confirmed takotsubo syndrome had worse psychosocial profiles than non-TTS patients, and individuals with elevated PTSD symptoms were significantly younger at their first takotsubo event than those with minimal symptoms (54 +/- 8 vs 61 +/- 10 years; p=0.005).
Why it helps: Supports an association between PTSD symptom burden and stress cardiomyopathy onset (including earlier onset), reinforcing a plausible secondary nexus between service-connected PTSD and takotsubo/stress cardiomyopathy.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022 · nexus to Type 2 diabetes mellitus · PMID 35408946
Finding: This review describes diabetic cardiomyopathy as cardiac dysfunction occurring in diabetes independent of coronary artery disease, hypertension, or valvular disease, driven by hyperglycemia/hyperinsulinemia causing capillary damage, myocardial fibrosis, and hypertrophy with mitochondrial dysfunction; it notes diabetes is an independent risk factor for heart failure.
Why it helps: Supports an association between diabetes mellitus and a distinct cardiomyopathy, useful where diabetes is already service-connected (e.g., as an Agent Orange presumptive) to support a secondary claim for cardiomyopathy.
- Alcoholic cardiomyopathy: an updateSecondary
European Heart Journal, 2024 · nexus to Alcohol use disorder · PMID 38848133
Finding: This review characterizes alcoholic cardiomyopathy as an acquired form of dilated cardiomyopathy caused by prolonged heavy alcohol intake (generally >80 g/day over 5 years) in the absence of other causes, with ethanol promoting myocardial oxidative stress and cellular damage.
Why it helps: Supports an association between chronic heavy alcohol use and dilated cardiomyopathy, relevant where a service-connected alcohol use disorder (often secondary to PTSD) is argued to cause or aggravate cardiomyopathy.
American Journal of Cardiology, 2019 · nexus to Substance use disorder, PTSD · PMID 31311659
Finding: In a VA cohort of 9,491 veterans with heart failure, 429 had a history of methamphetamine abuse (a recognized cause of dilated cardiomyopathy); these veterans were younger (60.7 vs 71.6 years) and had significantly higher rates of comorbid PTSD (16.8% vs 4.4%, p=0.006) and depression (28.7% vs 11.0%, p=0.002), with the incidence nearly doubling from 3.44% to 6.70% over a decade.
Why it helps: A veteran-specific study supporting an association between substance use (linked to high PTSD/depression comorbidity) and dilated cardiomyopathy/heart failure, relevant to secondary nexus arguments in veterans with service-connected mental health conditions.
- Obstructive sleep apnea and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a common and potential harmful combinationSecondary
Sleep Medicine Reviews, 2013 · nexus to Obstructive sleep apnea · PMID 23046848
Finding: This review reports obstructive sleep apnea is highly prevalent among hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients (32% to 71%) and, when present, is independently associated with worse cardiac structural and functional impairment, worse NYHA class, and roughly a fourfold higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation.
Why it helps: Supports an association between obstructive sleep apnea and worse cardiomyopathy outcomes, relevant where service-connected sleep apnea is argued to aggravate (or contribute to) a cardiomyopathy as a secondary condition.
- Chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathySecondary
Heart Failure Reviews, 2015 · nexus to Cancer treatment (anthracycline/targeted chemotherapy) · PMID 26338137
Finding: This review describes cardiomyopathy as an adverse outcome of antineoplastic drug therapy, particularly anthracyclines and targeted agents such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors, noting cardiotoxicity can carry a prognosis even worse than the underlying malignancy in cancer survivors.
Why it helps: Supports an association between chemotherapy and cardiomyopathy, relevant for veterans whose cancer is service-connected (e.g., Agent Orange or burn-pit presumptive cancers) and who developed cardiomyopathy from treatment of that cancer.
Every citation is real and verified against PubMed. This is general information, not medical or legal advice — your accredited VSO or representative can advise on your specific claim.
Evidence Checklist
Gather these types of evidence before filing your claim. The strongest claims include multiple evidence types.
Common Treatments
Documenting ongoing treatment strengthens your claim and supports higher ratings.
Secondary Conditions Linked to Cardiomyopathy
These conditions are commonly claimed as secondary to Cardiomyopathy. A secondary condition can increase your overall combined rating and monthly compensation.
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Cardiomyopathy as a Secondary Condition
Cardiomyopathy is commonly claimed secondary to these primary conditions:
Filing a Cardiomyopathyclaim? Don't skip these.
Most veterans filing for Cardiomyopathy should also be looking at:
Quick calculator
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Health care
Estimate your VA Priority Group →
Priority Group 1-8 determines what care you get and what it costs. Service-connected = lower copays, full access.
Where you live
Compare 50 state veteran benefits →
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Home buying
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Draft your Cardiomyopathy personal statement
7-step wizard that builds your VA claim personal statement using your own words. Detects presumptive eligibility, cites 38 CFR + DBQ, includes federal-crime disclosure. You review and edit before filing.
Start draftingNot legal or medical advice. Always have a VSO or accredited rep review before filing.
Start Your Cardiomyopathy VA Claim
Use our free Claims Builder to organize your Cardiomyopathy evidence, track your claim status, and prepare for your C&P exam. No coaching fees — just tools.
Secondary Condition Claim Guides
Detailed guides on claiming each secondary condition linked to Cardiomyopathy.
Cardiomyopathy Claim Guide by State
Find state-specific VA facilities, veteran benefits, and filing resources.
More free tools
Educational content, not professional advice
This article is published by Military Transition Toolkit for educational and planning purposes. It is not legal, medical, or financial advice. VA rating criteria, benefits, and regulations change — verify anything benefits-affecting against VA.gov, 38 CFR Part 4, or a VA-accredited representative (VSO, agent, or attorney) before filing.
MTT is a veteran-owned planning tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, or any military branch.